RTS frames tell other wireless clients that you want to transmit for a given amount of time.

• A. TRUE
• B. FALSE
• C. Depends on the network
• D. Only in legacy networks

Answer: (A)

RTS frames are used to coordinate access to the wireless medium by announcing a planned transmission and how long it will take. When a station sends an RTS, it includes a duration value that tells nearby devices how long the channel will be busy if this transmission proceeds (the upcoming CTS, data, and ACK are all part of that time). Other stations overhear the RTS and update their NAV (Network Allocation Vector) to defer their own transmissions for that period, reducing the chance of a collision, especially in scenarios with hidden nodes. So, describing RTS frames as conveying that you want to transmit for a given amount of time is accurate for networks that implement RTS/CTS. Some networks may operate without RTS/CTS, but the concept applies where RTS/CTS is used.